Off to Germany....

Dinner with co-workers
Tonight is my last in MA before heading off to Germany tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to seeing all the products at the Nuremburg Toy Fair which is Europe's largest toy tradeshow.

I've been on the road for a few days now, but as tiring as it has been, last night we had a nice respite and got a taste of home-life as my colleague Andy invited us over to his house where his wife, Julie cooked us pasta and burgers.

It was a much needed break from eating out and hanging out in the confines of our hotel room.

There was an actual home to wander around in, kid to play with (we all took turns playing Wii with his son) and nice conversation to be had.

Thanks, Andy!

"Phone?" in the supermarket
Aside from that, this phase of my trip is winding down so there's some time to post a few more pictures from our Guam vacation.

M seems to have really had a great time in Guam. It was nice for all of us to get to someplace where we could spread out a bit and enjoy a level of space and green that we just don't get in Hong Kong.

In some ways, I do feel that by living in Hong Kong that we are preventing M from developing a familiarity, love and sense of importance of nature and the outdoors, but I suppose that's what MacMahan summers will be for.

Eating corn on the cob all by herself
Anyways, enjoy the photos of the girl... it's time to eat and get packed up for phase two of my trip!

Snacktime in the buff!

Traipsing in some stranger's backyard

Cousins together

More cousins generation two

Week in Paradise

In the snow with MK, Wayne and Bruce
The above picture was taken today in Norwood Massachusetts as we headed back to the hotel early after it started snowing in what is supposed to be a 6-8 inch snowfall.

The below is the view from my mother's driveway in Guam which is where I was this time last week.


The next one is from my cousin Steffen's back lawn.

View from the lawn
You could say that it's a bit of a change and that the United States of America is certainly a nation of contrasts.

Greater Boston with its population of 4.4 million people, sub-zero winter weather and Yankee history is certainly a far cry from Guam with it's 175,000 people, year-round balmy weather and laid back demeanor. It's enough to give one culture shock.

To be sure, part of Guam's slow pace of life is in part due to the generally poor economic situation there, but, unfortunately, while there is certainly more going on in Boston, it's not certain that the economic situation here in Massachusetts is any better than it currently is in Guam.

In fact, one could argue that all else being equal, the weather is much better in Guam which puts them ahead of the game.

In fact, I wish I was still there.

On Steffen's deck with Steffen
Guam was a fun, if exhausting trip. Almost everyone in my family except for M, Philip and my mom got sick with a stomach bug. However, despite the inconvenience of having to head for the bathroom with a high level of frequency, the kids still had a great time as you can see below.

M looking regal while wearing her Sit 'N Secure as a cape
M absolutely loves her cousins and spent the majority of her time with them watching, learning and just trying to keep up.

At the same time, they were extremely nice to her, making sure she was well cared for and trying to teach her everything they knew about being fun-loving kids.

A raucous time was had by all.

Looking less regal sprawled with her cousins
Besides N and Philip, M got to meet her second, once removed cousins - my cousin Steffen's children.

That was even MORE fun, as Steffen had a house with a huge yard, basketball hoop, trampoline, waterfront access and two friendly dogs.

Unfortunately, as much as M liked to bark and watch the dogs from afar, she would burst out crying when the friendlier one came over to sniff and try to make friends with her.

Chu, the Dog was very sad at this rejection, but that was okay as I made it up to her.

Playing on the floor
Despite the illness, the trip was a really great gathering as we were there not just with the kids, but with my cousin Andrew and his father, Steffen and his family, my Uncle Philip and Aunt Rosemarie.

It was a gathering of people, many of whom hadn't seen or spent meaningful time together in over ten years.

It was truly meaningful.

The kids on the trampoline in Steffen's yard

Kissing Popo

Her first popsicle

Hanging with dad in the trunk

Mornings with M

Dinner last night with Pebbles Flinstone
A quick post as we get ready to go.

I took the day off today to hang out for a bit with Margaret and decompress before heading to Guam tomorrow night.

The result was a trip to the park with just M and Daddy which was loads of fun.

She loves her ball!
There were people practicing Tai Chi to run into the midst of, pigeons to chase and even other children to steal balls from (to be fair, it was more of a temporary trade where the kids swapped balls)!

Now, she's down for a morning nap. By the time we had spent an hour at the park, she was yawning and rubbing her eyes, so we knew it was definitely time to go home.

Watching the other people in the park
M is more and more a big kid these days. Not only will she feed herself with a fork if a grown-up is kind enough to spear the food for her first, but she can almost wash her hands by herself.

Almost because while she can climb the step stool, turn on and off the water, put soap on her hands, rub her hands together and dry them separately, she has yet to actually run through doing all of them in sequence.

While at the sink, all she wants to do is play with the water and bubbles.

It's fun.

Stair climbing
Now we're waiting for Mommy to come home from her half-day at school and it's out out out for more fun on the town!

Nice Weekend Weather at Last!

She loves upside down time
The hard couple of weeks that SAM and I had to survive are now finished, and we can now relax a bit and focus on the upcoming Chinese New Year Holiday.

As a result, the weekend really started after work on Friday with SAM and I both deciding to just chill out at home and R-E-L-A-X after the couple of weeks we both had.

Margaret was in a great mood as we took turns getting her completely riled up before bath and bedtime.

Giggle giggle and more giggles
As you can see, she especially likes being upside down.

She's learned to signal for us to flip her over by backing up against one of us with her back to us, then bending over in half at the waist until her head touches the ground. This means, "lift me up at the waist, please!"

Usually we are happy to oblige, with the results that you see here.

Bath time is happy time
Of course, having set the scene by getting M all riled up, we were of course, responsible parents and handed her off to Daisy to settle down for bed after her bath while we enjoyed a relaxed dinner catching up with each other over what we had missed over the past couple of weeks.

Bed time was notably early as we both collapsed into bed exhausted.

Walking the mean streets...
The next day was Saturday and we had a busy day planned.

The morning was spent mostly trying to get to the bank to deposit a cheque and get cash for Chinese New Year Red Envelopes. This task was made longer by M's new habit of not wanting to ride in her stroller but to instead walk all by herself.

This new found independence is surely wonderful for her developmentally, but it makes for some long errands as she rambles up and down the sidewalk (and sometimes into the street) with the direction and urgency of a curious golden retriever puppy. No leaf is left unturned. No stranger unmet.

Speaking of puppies, every time she saw one on the street, she would stop and try to communicate with them in what she surely thinks is "dog-ese" which is her enunciating a very clear, very high pitched, "woof-woof."

It's terribly cute to her smitten parents.

...with Mommy
In the walk photos, you may notice a certain floral patterned something draped around her neck.

This is because Margaret now is exhibiting a pronounced preference for what she wants to wear which at times is at loggerheads with what her parents want her to wear.

Before we went out on our walk, after she was fully dressed but not yet out the door, Margaret decided that she didn't like the plain white onesie that we had put her in, and instead, preferred the floral patterned one that she had worn the day before and which (in truth we agreed) matched her outfit much better.

She signalled her preference for a swap by constantly trying to put the other one on and draping it around her neck.

In order to make it to the bank before it closed, we opted not to completely undress her, but so as not to precipitate a total meltdown, we brought the onesie with us stuffed into the bottom of the stroller.

While walking around on the sidewalk with Daddy pushing the stroller, Margaret rediscovered the onesie (of course) and after draping it around her neck as one would a scarf, would not allow us to remove it from her for the rest of the morning.

Lunchtime joy
After the two hour trip to the bank (okay, okay, we stopped at Starbucks for the grownups, too) and a short nap, her chastised parents finally put her in the floral onesie and took her to lunch with the Koos.

Thankfully, the cool morning developed into a gloriously warm and sunny afternoon so we ate poolside at the Hong Kong Country Club and enjoyed the rather wonderful outdoors.

Margaret had a blast, enjoying shares of her father's fried rice, her mother's noodles and all the time receiving visitors (mostly Sarah's ex-students and their parents as well as Joy's friends) who would invariably stroke M's ego by cooing over how cute or how large she had grown.

No Manhattan socialite lunching at The Pierre has ever enjoyed a better time seeing and being seen.

Snuggling with Mommy
By the time we dropped M off at home and headed out again, it was 5:00 pm and we had a mission.

We were headed out to find ourselves a potty. Yes, a potty.

We are aware that it is likely much much to early to potty train at 14 months, but we've seen some behavior that leads us to want to familiarize our little girl with the mechanics of how big kids eliminate waste.

You see, a couple of times now, M has purposefully, urgently and determinedly (against her mother's best efforts), climbed out of the bath tub and peed all over the bathroom floor. Both times, when SAM tried to stop her, she protested violently at being in the tub, and both times, after relieving herself, she returned to the bath happily.

In addition, she has been very curious about the toilet, always wanting to lift the lid and look inside.

And finally, on more than one occasion, she has unwrapped a length of toilet paper from the roll and tried to wipe herself.

So I suppose that the theory is that if she's interested in the toilet, can understand when she wants to pee and knows that there are certain places where she doesn't want to pee and knows about wiping herself, then we might as well see how far this adventure will take us.

With the Koos at lunch
So we got a potty. A special potty with a lid that converts to a stool and plays music when it detects that the user has tinkled.

We're talking high-tech.

And the best part of it is that it fits perfectly in a corner, out of the way in our tiny and very cramped bathroom.

"I want this vest on!"
Then, to continue our date night evening, we shared a dinner of sandwiches and ginger ale before a enjoying a couples foot massage session courtesy of my sisters.

Thoroughly relaxed by this point, we headed home to relieve Daisy and were in bed by 9:30.

"Hmm... let's try this sitting down."

"OK, around my neck is fine..."
...And the next day was Sunday again.

We had a breakfast date with some friends and so we went to the Excelsior for yummy hotel breakfast with N and A and their son A who is about M's age.

After we were all (including the kids) stuffed full of omelet, pastry and fruit, it was to the park for some good old fashioned play time.

As usual, there were swings involved, playing on the jungle gym and today, we even brought her favorite yellow ball with us.

There was a bit of struggle with A at times for the ball, but for the most part, they were both able to play with it.

We finally decided to bring the ball because recently, whenever we've gone to the park, if there are children playing with balls, M will stop and stare.


At around 11:30, A had to go home which was our cue as well.

M went down without a peep, and SAM and I then spent the next few hours (until 3:00 almost) in quietude, she reading the paper, me watching TV and blogging while the sun poured in and we just took time to gather ourselves and catch up.

SAM even managed to start packing for our trip.

At about 3:00, good 'ol M woke up and after getting out of her crib, this is what she looked like.

Sleepy head
SAM and I had a good laugh at the wild hair and the cheerful, smiling M.

We fed her a late lunch before getting her dressed again for another trip to the park!

Wandering around the park focused on wandering
This time, we decided to forgo the play park area and instead headed for the "Great Lawn." We decided to make it even more of an adventure and let M walk there on her own.

Remember my earlier comment about walking with her being like walking with a new puppy? Yeah.

On the way there, besides somehow finding the ladies rest room at the park and going with mommy for an exploratory jaunt (and demanding to wash her hands), she also wanted to examine every bench, watched a few games of tennis, played with (and ate some) dirt, stepped up and down some uneven pavement over and over again and found and turned over countless leaves and twigs.

Stealing fruit from picnickers (actually, they gave it to her)
Then, when we finally found the great lawn, there was plenty of wandering from group to group of people on their blankets waving and flirting and making new friends. One nice lady even gave M an apple which she tried to take, but which Mommy and Daddy made her return.

But alas, the journey to the great lawn had taken up most of the time, and before we knew it, it was time to head home.

With a quick stop to pick up some veggies and McDonald's for dinner, it was to home we all went, for some dinner (which involved French Fries), and a bath.

Now, as I write this, M is in her bedroom with S trying to settle her down to sleep.

It's been a very full weekend in the very best of ways.

Crazy Week, Smiling Daughter

In PJs and fuzzy slippers on Saturday morning
Apologies for a long drought without a post, but it's been a busy week for SAM and I.

SAM is not only dealing with back to school busy-ness (crazy kids, getting back into the swing of things, etc.) but she has her reports due as well which is making her life a bit stressful.

I, on the other hand, have to deal with the busiest time of year for us as it is Hong Kong Toy Fair and we are busy finalizing the next year's orders with almost all of our key customers. On top of that, Chinese New Year is early this year, so we're arranging office dinners and working on appraisals and bonuses.


Thankfully, even though I had to work on Saturday, I didn't have to go in until later so we were able to get a few snaps during both yesterday and today.

M has been a a bit fussy these past few days for some reason. It was definitely getting to me, but SAM even had an uncharacteristic moment of short tempered-ness when I saw her turn to a screaming M trying to strain and wiggle out of her stroller and say to her, "Chill out!"

Watching Mom make French Toast on Saturday morning
You wouldn't be able to tell from the photos, however! Thankfully, there were enough happy moments over the weekend for us to feel like we got a break.

Yesterday, after a French Toast breakfast, we took M to the Toy Library at the Central Library which is basically a play-room with different play areas and toys with a lending toy library.

M has been going for the past week and has been having a grand time.

Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside, so we don't have any of her playing with the kitchen set, or playing with the big wagon or anything like that.

Helping with the lens cap
Today, Sarah got up with M and fed and readied her before I took her out so that there could be report writing inside a quiet house.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a booking at the toy library for today, and the wait-list was too long, so we went to the park instead after returning some books.

As it turns out, she didn't seem to mind, running around playing, swinging, and cavorting just as happily.

One interesting thing is that she is definitely exhibiting that she understands most basic commands.

This morning at the park, she tried to take another child's ball, but as soon as I said, "No, Margaret, that belongs to someone else," she backed off.

By the same token, SAM can give her an object, ask her to give it to that person, (Daisy or Daddy) and she will happily act the part of courier.

And she definitely understands what you mean when you ask for a kiss, but whether or not she obliges depends entirely on her mood.

In line at the library this morning
Surprisingly, the weather is cold and dry enough now that after playing in the park and coming home, her cheeks were dry, chapped, red and wind-burned. Then, later this evening, we noticed that the backs of her hands were the same way with a mean red-ness that required some moisturizer.

So much for the tropical humidity.

Playing at the park
After lunch, Daddy and M went down for a nap while Mommy continued to write her reports.

After an all too brief nap (M woke up SCREAMING after only an hour or so), the whole family went out for provisions.

Well, sort of.

I got new shirts and pants, M got organic milk and yummy snacks and Mommy... well, we went to one of her (and my) favorite places for an early dinner.

After that, it was home, then bath and bed for M after which the rest of us settled in for an evening of computer work - SAM on her reports and me on the blog.

Watching other kids at the park
As usual, the weekend has gone too quickly and next week will be just as busy. Reports are due for SAM on Thursday so it's the home stretch for her and I have three dinners next week as well as sales appointments, safety training and more.

Thankfully, both of us are essentially done after this week, and the, hopefully, we can get back to some semblance of a normal schedule.

Until then, enjoy the photos from this week!

"How may I help you?"

Happy at home

"Silly Daddy!"


Laughing at Daddy

Margaret's Christmas part II

This post is dedicated to Margaret's God Grandmother, Tee, who has once again managed to outdo herself in the present department. Suffice it to say that the clerk at the post office was quite concerned that I was going to try to get the boxes(!) home on my own. With so much practice from Tee's presents, Margaret managed to get the hang of ripping off wrapping paper to find the present inside.

"Hello? Tee? Thank you!"

As if the foam animals weren't enough, these ones talk!

Boxes are still as much fun as what's inside them

"Who are you?"

"A new wardrobe!"

She insisted on putting these pants on as soon as she found them.
This is the only photo we could get with the matching hat. So cute!

"sniff, sniff sniff" (Margaret's rabbit sound)

In the box

And in the lid

"Can I get you some tea?"

She played with the lid for a good 10 minutes

The tongue helps her focus

"Wuh, wuh, wuh!" (generic animal sound)

Thanks, Tee! We love you!